International Space Station Will Operate Until 2024: New Discoveries to be Revealed

President Obama's announcement to support the extension of the operation of the International Space Station has been great news for scientists and engineers. They have been granted the time they need to pursue future exploration, scientific discoveries and economic development in their field.

The orbiting laboratory will continue to operate until 2024, giving scientists an extra decade to continue and complete its microgravity research mission. On top of that, NASA has many other experiments and tests in progress, such as the Environmental Control and Life Support System that plans to refine designs for future spacecraft, particularly for long-duration journeys.

According to a Space Coast Daily article, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden confirmed the extension of operations for the ISS: "The [space station] is a unique facility that offers enormous scientific and societal benefits. The Obama Administration's decision to extend its life until at least 2024 will allow us to maximize its potential, deliver critical benefits to our nation and the world, and maintain American leadership in space."

With the news, NASA has planned to begin a wide variety of investigations, which include astrophysics developments. The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) and the Monitor of All-sky X-ray Image (MAXI) plan to help spur discoveries of the universe. They will also continue to keep a close eye on climate studies in order to help find out more information in regards to disaster recovery efforts.

Dr. Julie Robinson is the Space Station Chief Scientist and she is beyond grateful for the recent news. "Humankind has never had laboratory capabilities like these--where gravity can be controlled as a variable," she said, in the Space Coast Daily article. "The extension of the space station to at least 2024 gives scientists what we need: time to build the experiments and theories that could come from nowhere else."

Ten years might not be long enough for NASA to complete all of the experiments, but if they continue to make groundbreaking discoveries then they may be granted another extension by 2024.

To read more about the ISS, visit the Space Coast Daily website.